Dr. John Alfred "Jack" Reinecke

1931 - 2024

Dr. John Alfred (Jack) Reinecke passed away after a brief illness at his home in New Orleans on February 10, 2024, 10 days before what would have been his and his wife's 70th wedding anniversary. He was 93. Jack was born in New Orleans in 1931 to Joseph Alfred and Mariette Sarrat Reinecke. Although his early life had struggles - his beloved mother died when he and his twin brother were only 7 - he went on to be successful at everything he undertook. And while we usually say someone had an amazing life if they were famous or rich, Jack had an amazing life with neither of those things. He grew up speaking French, as did five generations of his family in New Orleanians before him. He was an outstanding student, at 16 finishing high school at St. Aloysius College, where he was the recipient of the Pepsi-Cola Scholarship. He went onto Loyola University, where he not only excelled in his studies, but is also remembered for his musical comedies based on Shakespeare's tragedies. At Loyola, Jack met his future wife, Gladys Elizabeth Aleman, also a superior student. He continued his education and earned an MBA from Tulane University, and then, after serving in the Navy during the Korean Conflict, he married Gladys and they moved to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois under the GI Bill. Jack was one of the first students in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in the field of Marketing. Jack and Gladys came home to New Orleans, where he was hired at LSUNO soon after its inception. He worked there until his retirement in 1985. He was well known at UNO, having served on many committees, most notably the group that helped LSUNO become UNO. He was also part of the group that brought Benjamin Franklin Senior High School to the UNO campus. Jack was active in his parish church, St. Frances Cabrini, where he stood up for integration and the dignity of people of color and people of limited means. He retired from UNO and went on to teach at both the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, from which he retired again in 1992. Jack went on to take courses every semester at UNO for the next 25 years, completing many in the Philosophy and English departments. Along the way, Jack and Gladys had seven children, 17 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. In retirement Jack and Gladys were avid travelers and spent many summers teaching abroad and on Elderhostel trips. Besides studying and learning, Jack was a gardener with outstanding tomato skills, and a cook famous for his oyster dressing. He lived 32 years in retirement, and is published in textbooks and academic journals. He had lifelong friends, a successful marriage and family, lived a life of the mind, taught thousands of students, and stood as a moral role model to his community. He had an amazing and admirable life. His family is grateful to him and proud of him. Jack was predeceased by his parents, his older brother George Francis Reinecke (Timmie), his sister, Denise Marie Rita Reinecke, his twin brother, Richard Bosseron Reinecke and his sister-in-law Nancy Reinecke. Jack is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Gladys Aleman Reinecke and their seven children, Dr. Thomas Reinecke (Shelley), Dr. Lee Reinecke Flynn, Margaret Alessandrini (Franco), Paul Reinecke (Carrie), Peter Reinecke (Noel Gerson), Helen Reinecke-Wilt (Justin Wilt), and Dr. Sue Reinecke (Chuck Brown), as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family would also like to thank Sandra Washington and Celestine Hughes for their kind and devoted care of Jack. Visitation will be Friday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 2:30 p.m., at the UNO Newman Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of New Orleans Foundation, Attention: Gift Processing, 2219 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 315, New Orleans, LA 70122.